I think the internet can be a great tool in growing our awareness, and connecting our consciousness better. However, I propose that closed networks are detrimental, in light of the internet being a world wide medium. Gated communities like fb and google+ keep us locked into our small worlds, even when we're on-line at home. - Imagine you live in a town you don't like all that much, so you go home and spend time with the same people you're not crazy about, except now you're doing it on-line?

One of the most positive things about the internet is access to diversity. Culturally, musically, politically, religiously, etc. It's a world wide medium. I find that I learn better, faster, when I spend time in places like this (reddit.com) than "friend" networks where vanity and insecurity breeds (facebook was born out of insecurity, vengeance, and ego after-all if you know the story).

I feel quite alone in this. And I'm trying to be as clear as possible.

Another thing I notice about friend/social media is how people just presume things about others, increasingly. They don't write each other, nor call each other with questions or inquiries. They make assessments on one another, and those assessments are often complete misinterpretations. I've seen it happen time and again to myself, and friends.

I'm finding much more peace without social media that's supposed to involve people I see in real life (which is a small fraction of the people on my friends lists). This moving away from such mediums, is renewing my ability to think deeper about things, to focus on a single topic for hours, days, or even weeks if need be. That's all for now. I hope this doesn't get deleted.

These tools are all very new, and as a group, humans have yet to figure out how to use them. Part of the recognition I'm getting from you is the need for balance. It is a constant struggle because things like FB and other sites are programed to be addictive and use our natural responses (flight or fight, reward system) to get you to spend more time on them. I struggle, we probably all do! Thanks for this, I hope it doesn't get deleted either.

I think any action that frees us from set patterns can be extremely beneficial. I stopped watching television some years ago and I am really happy with breaking that habit. Since then I've gotten back to watching selected shows online and occasional live news coverage, but it has made me much more conscious about what I focus on.

I don't think any of these things are bad, but they certainly are pitfalls that can easily trap you. Try cutting them off for a while and see what happens. Just remember that being overly judgmental about it is another pitfall you'll want to avoid.

Part of awakening is freeing oneself from attachments, and reducing outside factors is an important step in that process. But the other part of the process is being able to live in our complex world without falling asleep again. Awakened people sitting in caves don't do the world much good. :)

I grew up in a gated community. The first second I could at a young age, I fled the coop. I got the fuck out of there, and didn't look back. I moved to a fantastic place far away, and really for the first time truly started to enjoy my life.

I wanted to be free! I wanted to chase the stars, not be in such a place that would fear people entering their community, and I definitely didn't want to feel gated in either. However, years later I realized I was avoiding gated communities.

Because I was avoiding these communities I wasn't really free. I may have been in a larger place than some gated community, and it felt like freedom. I went from a mile by mile gated community, to most of this continent. The difference was drastic, but truthfully I was still gated. I didn't see the gates, but they were there.

Because I was avoiding these gated communities I did not have the freedom to go into them. I played it off as, "Why would I even want to go there?!" but in truth I was limiting myself. I was not free in the way I thought I was.

See, freedom comes from not being biased for or against these communities. If you leave them then you're limiting yourself from that freedom of having them. However, if you stay with them you limit yourself from everything else. This is the paradox.

A logical person would say, "It has to be one or the other!" but looking beyond simple logic, "Why not both?"

Why not embrace and accept those communities AND enjoy the freedom outside of them?

You can have your cake and eat it too. It starts with accepting the things you disagree with the most.

:)

(Oh and btw, I don't have a facebook account. I never had an interest from the beginning. My friends are all face to face or on IM. Feel free to call me a hypocrite. lol)

This is a very good point that people often run the risk of losing sight of. The fact that if you're running from something you're not free. And, I also believe in not limiting myself. Yet. some websites leave me feeling with feelings of being limited (this is not one of them).

Nonetheless, thanks for reminding me, and all of us about this philosophy.

I recently deactivated my Facebook account for these reasons and numerous others. Since my time away from social media I've came to the sad realization that none of those "friended " on face book were really my friends as I feel very isolated with out a barrage of likes and shares . To many people giving energy to something fake. Too much ego with out realness . I was very attached to it , sad. You are not alone in this thought process. But then again I'm replying to a post on reddit.

I think it's important to express these things. Because, I suspect that MANY people feel similarly to people who develop a distaste for friend/social media sites like facebook. But, people are shy to express how much the website changed their behavior, or affected their lives. There are some good ways its affected my life, but the bad far outweighs the good. For example facebook is an excellent address book, and stalking tool. But, the rest relates to being left feeling utterly alone on that site. I'm not trying to "dog" the makers of it, I just can't help how it's made me feel, and how I see it affecting others. And, I like to express myself.

Also, I'm not a lonely person. I'm somewhat of a public figure (not famous, but famous part of the state). I'm a musician, and know many great people in real life. I find it funny that the majority of people I interact with on facebook are people I seldom-to-never (and usually never) see in real life.

I think your mind set will determine what Facebook is to you. Just as everything else... Money for example can be used for good and evil. It's all a choice. I personally deleted my account because it didn't contribute to my progress. But people who I consider wide awake (lol) use it to communicate with lots of people.

Someone I consider to be wise once said that true freedom is being able to go anywhere, do anything and be around anyone, and that everyone is my teacher, particularly those that I "am not crazy about." This has been a helpful barometer to me in acknowledging my own ego and judgement of others, and supporting my own growth. My own experience shows me that if I feel the need to avoid anyone or anything in order to grow and be free, I'm really just fooling myself and making my world smaller. You might try this on and see how it works with you...it might, or it might not. I wish you all the best.